Look back through picture archives of bodybuilding and you will be struck by a startling fact. In the last half-decade bodybuilders have been getting much larger much quicker. Certain professionals have added twenty pounds to their contest weight in one season, after having seemingly reached a plateau. The bodybuilding audience loves to hear that this weight gain is due to some secret drug or some newly discovered gene therapy. Elaborate theories are developed to explain these rapid weight gains and the professionals themselves are not helpful; they claim that it's the new X-brand supplement that's doing it and leave it at that.

The truth is that bodybuilders have discovered the most anabolic hormone produced by the body, insulin. Additionally, insulin has the benefit of being not only legal and over the counter in most states, but it is very cheap. A bottle costs less then thirty dollars and there is no need to worry about counterfeits. By correctly using insulin, in conjunction with human growth hormone and anabolic steroids, modern professionals have added pounds of mass onto seemingly stagnant physiques.

This chapter will give a brief overview of insulin and the methods by which its anabolic action is exerted. We will outline how to correctly and safely use insulin both to gain size and to prepare for a contest (or simply diet).

Insulin: The Overview

Insulin is a peptide hormone, secreted by the pancreatic islets of Langerhans. Insulin promotes glucose utilization, protein synthesis, and regulates the metabolism of sugar. Insulin travels until it reaches receptor sites on cells. At these sites insulin facilitates the transport of glucose and amino acids across the cell membrane to be used inside the cell for energy and protein synthesis. This is insulin's anabolic effect, not only in super-saturating the cells with nutrients, but also helping to volumize the cell.

Insulin Safety:

There are significant risks that accompany the use of insulin. The greatest risk is an over-dose of insulin, which leads to hypoglycemic shock. This is not an overdose in the typical sense of the word; in this case it means that too much insulin was administered for the amount of glucose in the bloodstream. To this end, it is important to choose the correct type of insulin and to know when it peaks and the effective period of action of the drug in your body. This information is provided later in this chapter.

The symptoms of insulin shock are easy to recognize.
Distress is relatively rapid, usually in a matter of minutes.

Feed the person a source of quickly absorbed sugar. If the person is conscious, table sugar, fruit juice, honey, a non-diet soft drink, or any other available sugar source will do. If the person is unconscious, do not try to force sugar or liquid down his throat. Honey, granulated sugar, or a special capsule (such as D-glucose) containing concentrated sugars, which some diabetics carry, can be carefully placed under the tongue where it is absorbed into the body. However, this may be difficult to do.

There is another rapid form of intervention that anyone using insulin should know about; a glucagon pen. Injectable glucagon is a hormone, normally produced in the pancreas, which has effects opposite to those of insulin. It is commonly used to treat hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. It may also be used to relax parts of the gastrointestinal tract for certain examinations. It is not a controlled substance. In the event of the onset of hypoglycemia, this emergency injection will pull your blood sugar back up. If you are using insulin, you should have one of these pens with you at all times.

Take the person to a hospital emergency room as quickly as possible. Severe insulin reactions can be fatal. Do not be afraid of getting into "trouble", the use of insulin is legal. You will certainly get a lecture about how crazy it is to use insulin, but you will not be arrested or detained in anyway.

It is extremely important to have someone who you can trust monitor you when you are using insulin. They should be aware of the signs of insulin shock as well as the course of action to follow in the event that you do slip into a hypoglycemic state. Some insulin users will go so far as to purchase a medic alert bracelet that indicates them as a diabetic in the even that they pass out in public.

During a bulking phase, when calorie intake is deliberately high, insulin shock is not likely to be a problem assuming that post injection nutrition is precise (as outlined later in the chapter). In the even that you begin to feel any of the above symptoms immediately begin to consume the most simple sugars you can find, particularly look for glucose polymers and dextrose. Avoid fructose, as it is ineffective at raising blood sugar levels rapidly.

In the event that you are using insulin in dieting, do not be afraid to "blow your diet" by eating candy if you feel your blood sugar getting dangerously low. Your diet is not worth your life.

Types of Insulin:

There are three important characteristics that differentiate the available types of modern insulin. To properly use insulin in bodybuilding it is important to know the following characteristics:

Onset:

the time it takes the injected insulin to reach the blood stream and begin to work.

Peak:

the time period in which the insulin is working it's hardest to lower the blood sugar.

Duration:

the length of time the insulin will be working in the bloodstream. It is important to remember that insulin is an indiscriminate storage hormone. It doesn't care if its storing fat or glucose. Therefore fat intake should be as low as possible during the effective period of the insulin in the body. This will help prevent excessive fat gain.

For bodybuilding purposes we will only be concerned with three types of insulin; Humalin "R", Humalin "N" and Humalog are the most useful types of insulin. The other varieties are mixes of the above types in set ratios.
Humalin "N" is the longest acting insulin; it is active in the body for 24 hours.

Additionally, it peaks several times throughout the day. Humalin "N' is useful in the high calorie off-season when there will always be an abundant supply of glucose. However, even the most dedicated bodybuilder who is eating many small meals may run into serious trouble in the insulin peak corresponds to a period of low blood sugar. Also, the long duration of Humalin "N' means that the bodybuilder must adhere to a low fat diet throughout the day, which is incongruously with the eating necessary to achieve brutal size.

Humalin "R" is known as the rapid insulin. The manufacturers claim that this type of insulin is active in the body for up to six hours; in reality it's closer to four and a half hours. The onset time of "R" is roughly thirty minutes and the drug peaks in one and a half to two and a half hours after injection.

Humalog is the fastest acting insulin. It has duration of about 2 hours, peaks in fifteen minutes, and is ideal for bodybuilding purposes because it is out of the body quickly. The speed at which Humalog works is beneficial because it allows us more precise control and lets us know exactly when food needs to be consumed.

Insulin Injection Procedure:

Insulin can be injected intravenously, intramuscularly, or subcutaneously. Injection insulin into the veins is creepy, but safe. However, it is not necessary to do this, as injection insulin into muscle or under the skin is just as effective.

The injection site, exercise, and the accuracy of the dosage measurement, the depth of injection and by environmental temperatures, can affect insulin absorption. To obtain consistency in daily insulin absorption and action, you should vary injection sites within the same anatomical region. The abdomen provides an excellent area for consistent absorption of insulin, whereas the leg and arm areas are often affected more by exercise.

Repeated injection in the same area may cause a delay in absorption whereas massaging the site of injection may lead to an increased rate of absorption. Insulin should be injected at a 90-degree angle using an insulin syringe (25 unit, 30 unit, 50 unit, or 100 unit size) or with an insulin pen. If redness, pain, or lumps are noted at the injection site, this area should be avoided until the problem goes away.

Be sure to follow proper sterilization procedures. Wipe down the injection area with alcohol. The insulin needle is very thin so bleeding should be minimal. However, press a swab of cotton soaked in alcohol over the injection site after you withdraw the needle. This will protect almost entirely against infection.

An increase in blood flow to an injection site will increase the rate that insulin is absorbed. So, exercise will cause insulin to be absorbed more rapidly, because blood flow has increased to the exerted muscle groups. You will need to either inject less insulin or eat more carbohydrates after exercise. Rubbing the injected area increases blood flow, and hence, absorption.

Post Injection Meals and Supplements:

Depending on the onset time of the insulin type you are using you have varying lengths of time in which to ingest the post-insulin meal. Generally your post insulin meals should follow these guidelines. 60-80 grams of a good quality protein powder. Whey protein is ideal. This is taken immediately after the injection. 7 grams of simple carbohydrates (not fructose as it does not raise blood sugar quickly enough) per IU of insulin injected. Every 15-20 minutes after the first shot, take a few glucose tablets. This is will increase the amount of glucose available to your body for storage.

The total amount of insulin that you will be using daily is roughly 15-45 IUs depending on how many carbohydrates you can eat that day. During dieting periods, the total amount of insulin will be greatly reduced.

Typically, three injections of insulin are used daily. The first is taken immediately upon awaking; this is an appropriate time to use the Humalin "R". The second shot is taken mid-day and Humalog is recommended. The last injection is taken immediately after the workout of the day. If you are doing a double split training program, then take one shot after each workout and adjust your other injection accordingly. Do not take an injection too late at night; you want to be able to stay awake through the entire period of action so you can monitor yourself for signs of low blood sugar.

Anyone who is going to use insulin should take some time to familiarize him or herself with the glycemic index. The glycemic index is a ranking of foods based on how they effect the body's blood sugar levels. There are many resources that provide elaborate listing of many types of foods including fast foods. For our purposes it is merely important to identify the foods with high glycemic index scores to consume with the insulin injection. Below is a list of foods (or sugars) that scored very highly on the glycemic index.

For many, insulin may seem like the perfect bodybuilding drug. It's legal, cheap, effective, and easy to obtain. However, the decision to use insulin is not one that can be made lightly. At worst, the misuse or abuse of anabolic steroids will probably result in no more than elevated liver enzymes and a host of undesirable cosmetic side effects. Improper use of insulin will result in much more serious consequences, including death. Bodybuilders must first ask themselves if they possess the necessary maturity and intelligence to responsibly use this hormone. Look before you leap my friends.

For answers to board issues, read the Suggestion and News forum at the bottom of the main page.

First off i'd like to say, i think the dosages recommended in this post are kind of high, but since it's a cut and paste, i will not tamper w/ it. So PLEASE do not think you need to use between 15-45ius daily to see results! I'd say more along the lines of 10-30 max per day, or 5-15iu's per injection.

Insulin: The Most Anabolic Hormone
by Grendel

Look back through picture archives of bodybuilding and you will be struck by a startling fact. In the last half-decade bodybuilders have been getting much larger much quicker. Certain professionals have added twenty pounds to their contest weight in one season, after having seemingly reached a plateau. The bodybuilding audience loves to hear that this weight gain is due to some secret drug or some newly discovered gene therapy. Elaborate theories are developed to explain these rapid weight gains and the professionals themselves are not helpful; they claim that it's the new X-brand supplement that's doing it and leave it at that.

The truth is that bodybuilders have discovered the most anabolic hormone produced by the body, insulin. Additionally, insulin has the benefit of being not only legal and over the counter in most states, but it is very cheap. A bottle costs less then thirty dollars and there is no need to worry about counterfeits. By correctly using insulin, in conjunction with human growth hormone and anabolic steroids, modern professionals have added pounds of mass onto seemingly stagnant physiques.

This chapter will give a brief overview of insulin and the methods by which its anabolic action is exerted. We will outline how to correctly and safely use insulin both to gain size and to prepare for a contest (or simply diet).

Insulin: The Overview

Insulin is a peptide hormone, secreted by the pancreatic islets of Langerhans. Insulin promotes glucose utilization, protein synthesis, and regulates the metabolism of sugar. Insulin travels until it reaches receptor sites on cells. At these sites insulin facilitates the transport of glucose and amino acids across the cell membrane to be used inside the cell for energy and protein synthesis. This is insulin's anabolic effect, not only in super-saturating the cells with nutrients, but also helping to volumize the cell.

Insulin Safety:

There are significant risks that accompany the use of insulin. The greatest risk is an over-dose of insulin, which leads to hypoglycemic shock. This is not an overdose in the typical sense of the word; in this case it means that too much insulin was administered for the amount of glucose in the bloodstream. To this end, it is important to choose the correct type of insulin and to know when it peaks and the effective period of action of the drug in your body. This information is provided later in this chapter.

The symptoms of insulin shock are easy to recognize.
Distress is relatively rapid, usually in a matter of minutes.

Feed the person a source of quickly absorbed sugar. If the person is conscious, table sugar, fruit juice, honey, a non-diet soft drink, or any other available sugar source will do. If the person is unconscious, do not try to force sugar or liquid down his throat. Honey, granulated sugar, or a special capsule (such as D-glucose) containing concentrated sugars, which some diabetics carry, can be carefully placed under the tongue where it is absorbed into the body. However, this may be difficult to do.

There is another rapid form of intervention that anyone using insulin should know about; a glucagon pen. Injectable glucagon is a hormone, normally produced in the pancreas, which has effects opposite to those of insulin. It is commonly used to treat hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. It may also be used to relax parts of the gastrointestinal tract for certain examinations. It is not a controlled substance. In the event of the onset of hypoglycemia, this emergency injection will pull your blood sugar back up. If you are using insulin, you should have one of these pens with you at all times.

Take the person to a hospital emergency room as quickly as possible. Severe insulin reactions can be fatal. Do not be afraid of getting into "trouble", the use of insulin is legal. You will certainly get a lecture about how crazy it is to use insulin, but you will not be arrested or detained in anyway.

It is extremely important to have someone who you can trust monitor you when you are using insulin. They should be aware of the signs of insulin shock as well as the course of action to follow in the event that you do slip into a hypoglycemic state. Some insulin users will go so far as to purchase a medic alert bracelet that indicates them as a diabetic in the even that they pass out in public.

During a bulking phase, when calorie intake is deliberately high, insulin shock is not likely to be a problem assuming that post injection nutrition is precise (as outlined later in the chapter). In the even that you begin to feel any of the above symptoms immediately begin to consume the most simple sugars you can find, particularly look for glucose polymers and dextrose. Avoid fructose, as it is ineffective at raising blood sugar levels rapidly.

In the event that you are using insulin in dieting, do not be afraid to "blow your diet" by eating candy if you feel your blood sugar getting dangerously low. Your diet is not worth your life.

Types of Insulin:

There are three important characteristics that differentiate the available types of modern insulin. To properly use insulin in bodybuilding it is important to know the following characteristics:

Onset:

the time it takes the injected insulin to reach the blood stream and begin to work.

Peak:

the time period in which the insulin is working it's hardest to lower the blood sugar.

Duration:

the length of time the insulin will be working in the bloodstream. It is important to remember that insulin is an indiscriminate storage hormone. It doesn't care if its storing fat or glucose. Therefore fat intake should be as low as possible during the effective period of the insulin in the body. This will help prevent excessive fat gain.

For bodybuilding purposes we will only be concerned with three types of insulin; Humalin "R", Humalin "N" and Humalog are the most useful types of insulin. The other varieties are mixes of the above types in set ratios.
Humalin "N" is the longest acting insulin; it is active in the body for 24 hours.

Additionally, it peaks several times throughout the day. Humalin "N' is useful in the high calorie off-season when there will always be an abundant supply of glucose. However, even the most dedicated bodybuilder who is eating many small meals may run into serious trouble in the insulin peak corresponds to a period of low blood sugar. Also, the long duration of Humalin "N' means that the bodybuilder must adhere to a low fat diet throughout the day, which is incongruously with the eating necessary to achieve brutal size.

Humalin "R" is known as the rapid insulin. The manufacturers claim that this type of insulin is active in the body for up to six hours; in reality it's closer to four and a half hours. The onset time of "R" is roughly thirty minutes and the drug peaks in one and a half to two and a half hours after injection.

Humalog is the fastest acting insulin. It has duration of about 2 hours, peaks in fifteen minutes, and is ideal for bodybuilding purposes because it is out of the body quickly. The speed at which Humalog works is beneficial because it allows us more precise control and lets us know exactly when food needs to be consumed.

Insulin Injection Procedure:

Insulin can be injected intravenously, intramuscularly, or subcutaneously. Injection insulin into the veins is creepy, but safe. However, it is not necessary to do this, as injection insulin into muscle or under the skin is just as effective.

The injection site, exercise, and the accuracy of the dosage measurement, the depth of injection and by environmental temperatures, can affect insulin absorption. To obtain consistency in daily insulin absorption and action, you should vary injection sites within the same anatomical region. The abdomen provides an excellent area for consistent absorption of insulin, whereas the leg and arm areas are often affected more by exercise.

Repeated injection in the same area may cause a delay in absorption whereas massaging the site of injection may lead to an increased rate of absorption. Insulin should be injected at a 90-degree angle using an insulin syringe (25 unit, 30 unit, 50 unit, or 100 unit size) or with an insulin pen. If redness, pain, or lumps are noted at the injection site, this area should be avoided until the problem goes away.

Be sure to follow proper sterilization procedures. Wipe down the injection area with alcohol. The insulin needle is very thin so bleeding should be minimal. However, press a swab of cotton soaked in alcohol over the injection site after you withdraw the needle. This will protect almost entirely against infection.

An increase in blood flow to an injection site will increase the rate that insulin is absorbed. So, exercise will cause insulin to be absorbed more rapidly, because blood flow has increased to the exerted muscle groups. You will need to either inject less insulin or eat more carbohydrates after exercise. Rubbing the injected area increases blood flow, and hence, absorption.

Post Injection Meals and Supplements:

Depending on the onset time of the insulin type you are using you have varying lengths of time in which to ingest the post-insulin meal. Generally your post insulin meals should follow these guidelines. 60-80 grams of a good quality protein powder. Whey protein is ideal. This is taken immediately after the injection. 7 grams of simple carbohydrates (not fructose as it does not raise blood sugar quickly enough) per IU of insulin injected. Every 15-20 minutes after the first shot, take a few glucose tablets. This is will increase the amount of glucose available to your body for storage.

The total amount of insulin that you will be using daily is roughly 15-45 IUs depending on how many carbohydrates you can eat that day. During dieting periods, the total amount of insulin will be greatly reduced.

Typically, three injections of insulin are used daily. The first is taken immediately upon awaking; this is an appropriate time to use the Humalin "R". The second shot is taken mid-day and Humalog is recommended. The last injection is taken immediately after the workout of the day. If you are doing a double split training program, then take one shot after each workout and adjust your other injection accordingly. Do not take an injection too late at night; you want to be able to stay awake through the entire period of action so you can monitor yourself for signs of low blood sugar.

Anyone who is going to use insulin should take some time to familiarize him or herself with the glycemic index. The glycemic index is a ranking of foods based on how they effect the body's blood sugar levels. There are many resources that provide elaborate listing of many types of foods including fast foods. For our purposes it is merely important to identify the foods with high glycemic index scores to consume with the insulin injection. Below is a list of foods (or sugars) that scored very highly on the glycemic index.

For many, insulin may seem like the perfect bodybuilding drug. It's legal, cheap, effective, and easy to obtain. However, the decision to use insulin is not one that can be made lightly. At worst, the misuse or abuse of anabolic steroids will probably result in no more than elevated liver enzymes and a host of undesirable cosmetic side effects. Improper use of insulin will result in much more serious consequences, including death. Bodybuilders must first ask themselves if they possess the necessary maturity and intelligence to responsibly use this hormone. Look before you leap my friends.

Here it is, almost everything you've ever wanted to know about Insulin, and then some.

What is Insulin
Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas which helps to regulate glucose levels in the body. Medically, it is typically used in the treatment of diabetes. Recently, insulin has become quite popular among bodybuilders due to the anabolic effect it can offer. With well-timed injections, insulin will help to bring glycogen and other nutrients to the muscle.

Types of Insulin

Very Fast acting - The fastest acting insulins are called lispro (Humalog)and insulin aspart (Novolog). They should be injected under the skin within 15 minutes before you eat. You have to remember to eat within 15 minutes after you take a shot. These insulins start working in five to 15 minutes and lower your blood sugar most in 45 to 90 minutes. It finishes working in three to four hours. With regular insulin you have to wait 30 to 45 minutes before eating. Many people like using lispro because it's easier to coordinate eating with this type of insulin.

Fast acting - The fast acting insulin is called regular insulin. It lowers blood sugar most in 2 to 5 hours and finishes its work in 5 to 8 hours.

Intermediate acting - NPH (N) or Lente (L) insulin starts working in one to three hours, lowers your blood sugar most in six to 12 hours and finishes working in 20 to 24 hours.

Using Insulin

What Insulin to use
In America, regular human insulin is available without a prescription by the name of Humulin R by Eli Lilly and Company. It costs about $20 for a 10 ml vial with a strength of 100 IU per ml. Eli Lilly and Company also produces 5 other insulin formulations, but none of these should be used by bodybuilders. Humulin R is the safest because it takes effect quickly and has the shortest duration of activity. The other insulin formulations remain active for a longer period and can put the user in an unexpected state of hypoglycemia.

Where should you inject
Humilin R should be injected subcutaneously only with a U-100 insulin syringe. Insulin syringes are available without a prescription in many states. If the athlete cannot purchase the syringes at a pharmacy, he can mail order them or buy them on the black market. Using a syringe other than a U-100 is dangerous since it will be difficult to measure out the correct dosage. Subcutaneous insulin injections are usually given by pinching a fold of skin in the abdomen area. Insulin injected near the stomach works fastest. Insulin injected into the thigh works slowest and a shot in the arm works at medium speed.

Using safely
Most athletes will bring their insulin with them to the gym. Insulin should be refrigerated, but it is all right to keep it in a gym bag as long as it is kept away from excessive heat. Immediately after a workout, the athlete will inject his dosage of insulin. Within the next fifteen minutes, he should have a carbohydrate drink such as Ultra Fuel by Twinlab. The athlete should consume at least 10 grams of carbohydrates for every 1 IU of insulin injected. Most athletes will also take creatine monohydrate with their carbohydrate drink since the insulin will help to force the creatine into the muscles. An hour or so after injecting insulin, most athletes will eat a meal or consume a protein shake. The carbohydrate drink and meal/protein shake are necessary. Without them, blood sugar levels will drop dangerously low and the athlete will most likely go into a state of hypoglycemia.

Insulin and Bodybuilding
Insulin is used in a wide variety of ways. Most athletes choose to use it immediately after a workout. Dosages used are usually 1 IU per 10-20 pounds of lean bodyweight. First-time users should start at a low dosage and gradually work up. For example, first begin with 2 IU and then increase the dosage by 1 IU every consecutive workout. This will allow the athlete to safely determine a dosage. Insulin dosages can very significantly among athletes and are dependent upon insulin sensitivity and the use of other drugs. Athletes using growth hormone can thyroid will have higher insulin requirements, and therefore, will be able to handle higher dosages. Insulin is used in bodybuilding because it qromotes glycogen synthesis and storage for maximum endurance in ergogenic activity (Your workout). It also helps shuttle the nutrients, glucose and energy into your cells when your muscles are training hard, when it really counts. It is important for bodybuilders to understand that when insulin levels are high your body will store excess glucose as bodyweight. Unfortunately, your body does not care if it is muscle weight or fat weight. It is important to realize the difference in carbohydrates and their use by muscle tissue. Enzymes within muscles readily metabolize starch, which is broken down into usable glucose. The liver has the intermediary enzymes to convert glucose, fructose, galactose, amino acids, and other metabolites for its glycogen stores. Since your muscles have the ability to store 250 to 400 grams of glycogen and your liver only has the ability to store 100 grams of glycogen, it is advisable to keep a high proportion of your carbohydrate calories from complex sources. As mentioned earlier, muscle glycogen is only used by muscle tissue. Since muscle glycogen is similar to an amylopectin as in starch, it is logical to supply your body with complex carbohydrates to replenish muscle glycogen stores.

How to store it
* If you use a whole bottle of insulin within 30 days, keep that bottle of insulin at room temperature. On the label write the date that is 30 days away. That date is when you should throw out the bottle with any insulin left in it.
* If you don't use a whole bottle within thirty days then you should store it in the refrigerator all of the time.
* If insulin gets too hot or too cold, it doesn't work right. So, don't keep insulin in the freezer or in the glove compartment of your car during warm weather.
* Keep at least one extra bottle of insulin around your house. Store extra insulin in the refrigerator.

Future of Insulin delivery

Insulin inhalers
Although daily injections of insulin would still be needed, inhaled insulin is currently in clinical trials and may be headed for a fast track approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These inhalers are about the size of a flashlight and uses rapid-acting insulin. The sprayed insulin is inhaled into the mouth and coats the mouth, throat and tongue. The insulin passes quickly into the bloodstream.

Insulin Pill
The discovery of a new polymer that may allow development of an effective insulin pill was reported at a recent meeting of the American Chemical Society. When the polymer is used as a pill coating, it allows insulin to get into the bloodstream without being destroyed by the digestive system. So far it has only been tested in animals. Some experts question whether insulin in pill form will prove useful, since dosing is so critical and often variable.

Insulin and Hypoglycemia

What is hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia occurs when blood glucose levels are too low. It is a common and potentially fatal reaction experienced by insulin users. Before an athlete begins taking insulin, it is critical that he/she understands the warning signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia. Generally, a level below about 60 mg/dl is called low blood sugar.

Symptoms of Hypoglycemia
The following is a list of symptoms which may indicate a mild to moderate hypoglycemia: hunger, drowsiness, blurred vision, depressive mood, dizziness, sweating, palpitation, tremor, restlessness, tingling in the hands, feet, lips, or tongue, lightheadedness, inability to concentrate, headache, sleep disturbances, anxiety, slurred speech, irritability, abnormal behavior, unsteady movement, and personalivy changes. If any of these warning signs should occur, an athlete should immediately consume a food or drink containing sugar such as a candy bar or carbohydrate drink. This will treat a mild to moderate hypoglycemia and prevent a severe state of hypoglycemia. Severe hypoglycemia is a serious condition that may require medical attention. Symptoms include disorientation, seizure, unconsciousness, and death.

Keep it safe everyone, if you use Insulin take it very seriously... its not like any other bodybuilding compound. If you found this helpful, please give er a bump so others may benefit as well.

This is from BtPB, I made a few edits so it would be easier to understand a nd I corrected typos where I saw them, but I know I didn't get them all.

INSULIN
Insulin is the most anabolic hormone, yet it is anti-catabolic as well. Since this is a storage hormone, anabolism is initiated by inducing storage intracellularly of glucose, amino acids, and fats, as well as electrolytes. Remember, creatine is an
amino acid structure as are several growth inducing chemicals. As well, there is a great deal of evidence that by creating a state of cellular hydration, supraphysiological insulin induces a secondary anabolism and cellular hypertrophy.

Insulin has anti-catabolic qualities simply because the presence of Insulin in the blood stream at high enough levels prevents catabolic hormones such as cortisol and glucagon from becoming elevated. This obviously creates a state in which amino acids and glucose cannot exit cells.

As noted in the treatment of type II diabetics, insulin receptor-sites can be desensitized from over use of exogenous Insulin. Ever notice how fat diabetic couch potatoes get? This is because the lack of exercise allows muscle cell insulin receptor sites to become insulin resistant and the fat cells become the main point of storage. Which of course sucks! For this reason, (and others) long protocols with exogenous insulin could have greatly reduced long term potential.

There were some supplements employed that enhanced Insulin sensitivity and allowed for lower dosages to be more effective. This in turn helped to prevent Insulin resistance. Alpha Lipoic Acid, Chromium, Corosolic Acid, D-Pinitol, Selenium, 4-Hydroxyisoleucine, L-Phenyl Alanine, and Courdin which is a fraction from bitter melon (Momridica Charantia).

These supplements made a huge difference in results both during and post-insulin use. Frank always included a mixture of 200 mg Alpha Lipoic Acid, 1000 mg L-Phenyl Alanine, and 50 mg of D-Pinitol twice daily with Insulin, and twice daily for 14 days after with 4-hydroxyisoleucine added at a dosage of 200mg 2xd.

Over the years, I have noted many athletes obtained the same results utilizing "up to" half of their normal exogenous Insulin dosages with this supplement schedule. They also stored less fat.

Another addition said to lower fat storage was HCA(Hydroxycitric Acid) which is supposed to decrease conversion of carbohydrates to fat by inhibiting its conversion
enzyme. 1000 mg 2-4 times daily. My personal experience has been that HCA is not effective.

The essential fatty acid supplement CLA was probably the best OTC product for fat synthesis inhibition during exogenous insulin use. (We are currently patenting a
fat that tells the body to not store fat and to burn fat at a higher rate. This is like super CLA x 10)

Misuse of Insulin and the normally required 10 g of carbs or appropriate super substrate per i.u. has been known to lead to coma, beta cell burn out, pancreatic damage, and blindness among other things such as cataracts.

Insulin significantly and quickly reduces blood sugar and can create a state of hypoglycemia. You will need to know that later. (There will be a test) This means insulin is a major storage hormone, right?! So it was absolutely vital for Frank or any of the beasts to protect against Insulin insensitivity. GH release was inhibited by elevated blood sugar by the way. Think about it.

The examples that follow often list Humalog or Humulin-R insulin because they are fast/short acting and easier to control. Going to sleep with supraphysiological insulin levels could have killed. So by utilizing a fast acting Insulin, the system was mostly clear within 1.5-3 or 6-8 hours respectively after injection.

Obviously a meal before sleep was a must. For Frank, or any beast, a single injection of Humulin-R that exceeds 1 i.u. per 10 lbs. of body weight would have significantly increased risks. This was simply because metabolic processes would not
have been able to keep up with necessary glucose supplies in most cases.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT...

I realize I have pointed this out several times, but Action/Reaction principles applied for greatest growth potential rely on synergy. This meant not only strategic
use of drugs that interacted to induce a more powerful stimuli, but also anticipating and responding to the negative feed-back loops drugs can produce.

In the applications I had utilized with Frank and other beasts, this required atleast a basic understanding of drug Action/Reaction Factors as well as drug interaction. Using Insulin and GH as an example, let's look at some factors taken into consideration.

GH use without an androgen or Insulin would have been anti-catabolic yet not as anabolic. GH use alone would not have increased muscle fiber contractile proteins significantly. This is due to GH lacking the ability to induce uptake of "all" essential amino acids and therefore most growth occurs in structural proteins.

Since GH can also decrease T-3 levels, protein synthesis decreases and growth would have occurred due to a stronger alteration in the catabolic side of the Anabolic/Catabolic ratio. We added insulin and growth occurred in both contractile and structural proteins due to greater complete amino acid profile and ratio availability and adequate T-3 levels that allowed elevated protein synthesis. This is
greatly simplified but an adequate explanation of Action/Reaction Synergy.

Another considered and included point of synergy between Insulin and GH was this: Insulin and IGF-1 each potentially stimulate the other's receptor sites when plasma levels are supraphysiological. GH converts to IGF-1 in the liver, and stimulates the release of IGF-1 in muscle cells. Stacking GH and Insulin obviously resulted in a great deal of IGF-1 receptor-site activity for beasts. Interesting huh?

There are several forms and origins of exogenous Insulin used to treat diabetics. The options were numerous but experience had taught me that the fast acting (short acting) insulin's had benefits and a greater control safety (no, Insulin is not "safe" by any means without proper medical guidance) over long acting Insulin. Just as different AAS we had employed had different half and active-lives, so did insulin's. And just like AAS, longer acting Insulin's took a longer period to become active.

The use of insulin with an active period of more than 6-8 hours without stacking it with GH was not the best approach in most situations. First, due to long periods of possible and dangerous hypoglycemic activity, and second due to a decrease in endogenous GH release in the presence of elevated insulin levels, the benefits did not out-weigh the loss. Remember synergy and Action/Reaction?

I have noted that athletes who utilized very-short or short acting insulin were about the same weight as those who favored long-acting insulin's. However, those who used the short-acting insulin carried greater lean mass and less fat in
comparison. But it seemed to be equal regardless of insulin type administered when 1-2iu of GH was layered in 2-5 times daily during insulin protocols.

• Humalog was administered about 15 minutes before an appropriate meal.
• Regular Type-R was administered 30 minutes before an appropriate meal.

It would seem obvious that when Frank had utilized a protocol that required 30iu of insulin per day with 2iu of GH 3-5xd he could have theoretically administered 30iu of Combination: 70% N/30% R subcutaneously upon waking in the morning (About 10 minutes before a meal), if a meal had been ingested just prior to retiring the night before. But there is a problem with that. Go re-read GH and Insulin Action/Reaction Factors.

This would have been applicable only during a mass phase. This is due to the fact that insulin stops the fat burning effect of GH. So the better choice was GH first and a fast acting Insulin 30-60 minutes later.

NOTE: A fragment of the GH molecule stimulates the B-3 receptors on fat cells. This then triggers lipolysis (fat burning) while simultaneously blocking fat storage.

Some have stated that they believe an elevation in insulin during GH activity would result in a decrease in anabolic value. This is interesting in that both GH and insulin must be present in the liver and available to tissues for the synthesis of IGF-1. As most are aware IGF-1 is by far a superior anabolic on a dose dependent basis and all three are necessary for the natural synergy need for maximum growth.

I realize this is an old post but I have a question.
I know someone who is an insulin-dependant diabetic, he takes two shots a day, I realize he isn't using it to build muscle, BUT, he doesn't eat after his injections.
Is he able to do this because he is a diabetic?

Great info. What do you think about stacking it with my IGF/PEG MGF cycle.
PEG MGF 250mcg Sun / Wed
IGF LR3 40mcg Tue / Thur / Sat postworkout IM
Then I was thinking about adding in Humulin R @ 8-10 IU (start out with 2iu and work up like recommended) on Mon/Tue/Thur/Fri Post work out Sub q.

can insulin be used on a keto style diet affectively?
or is it not designed for this kind of use?

I know people who have used insulin to 'cheat' themselves into a ketosis state but once in ketosis I wouldn't recommend using the insulin. Your glucose levels are already very low, any added insulin could make you go hypo. If using it to enter ketosis make sure you get a meter

I realize this is an old post but I have a question.
I know someone who is an insulin-dependant diabetic, he takes two shots a day, I realize he isn't using it to build muscle, BUT, he doesn't eat after his injections.
Is he able to do this because he is a diabetic?

Thanks.

Yes - diabetics react completely different to slin than a non-diabetic obviously - that's why it is of the UTTER most importance that you are extremely careful about usage and have your plan down 100%!

Ok, someone help me! I am a type1 diabetic, meaning I take insulin ALOT! Everytime I eat actually. So, what can I do to help me bodybuilding? I mean, should I be taking alot to cram all the nutrients in I can? Is there anything I can do to help me gain, or atleast not start having muscles break down do to the disease? I seen you mentioned people that are diabetic bodybuilders "manipulate" insulin levels to help!

I am also a type 1 diabetic, first of all how old are you and how long have you been diagnosed as a type 1 diabetic. second of all anyone that has thought about taking insulin to build muscle can become a type 1 diabetic (as in insulin dependent not genetically predisposed for it) for ever. so make sure you weigh your pro's and con's before starting a cycle of insulin.

Great info. What do you think about stacking it with my IGF/PEG MGF cycle.
PEG MGF 250mcg Sun / Wed
IGF LR3 40mcg Tue / Thur / Sat postworkout IM
Then I was thinking about adding in Humulin R @ 8-10 IU (start out with 2iu and work up like recommended) on Mon/Tue/Thur/Fri Post work out Sub q.

I'd like to know the answer to this as well.

"I am NOT an alcoholic. Alcoholics have a drinking problem. I ain't got no problem drinking!!"
-My Best Friend

Basically, and correct me if I'm wrong, please? A person who is using insulin for the first time to keep things simple should be on a bulking diet and inject 2IU after their workout and then work their way up to max suggested use as stated above( 10iu for 200Lbs LBM). I'm trying to understand this not actually jump into it lol. I'm just trying to keep things simple and make sure im understanding it

so,insulin is very very very dangerous!! are all u sure about insulin use doesn't create an insulin deficiency from your own pancreas by long term use (or also shot term use)? isn't it like T or GH ,that u could to be forced to use or Clomid or GHRPs to restore your glands right production??
why does anyone research for a 'stuff' able to stimulate your own insulin production from pancreas??

That side effect is only theorized and postulated in some circles of thought. I have never seen or heard rumors of any published data that supports this specific fear- although in a sense it stands to reason. Although it is admittedly a bit of informal brology, sustaining a down regulation (permanently) of endogenous insulin secretion and in essence producing a diabetic condition from short term controlled insulin administration post-workout not exceeding 10-12iu seems highly unlikely and nearly implausible to me. This would be akin to shutting down testosterone production and TSH levels for the duration of your life, after running a cycle of supra-physiological testosterone and Cytomel.

Although when dealing with AAS and other introductions of questionable and illegal preparations all in the scheme of chasing the next pound of lean mass, I support a well balanced sense of caution... I think many people highly underestimate the body's intrinsic abilities to defend itself, adapt by any means necessary, and exude immeasurable levels of resilience in the face of disease, starvation, poisoning, etc. Many would-be muscle masters fall victim to their own best intentions, and succumb to unfounded and suffocating paranoia propagated in large part by the fear of the unknown since a large body of clinical science doesn't exist on steroid usage.

Taking insulin and puting on 20lbs of lean mass is not completely true.
What's repsonsible for that is growth hormone and to some degree IGF.
Over using insulin will just make you fat. The trick is that to be 300lbs at 6ft tall requires a lot of calories and in many cases our bodies just doesnt produce enough insulin to sustain that. Adding the insulin just takes food intake to a different level, and allows growth hormone to do it's thing.
Look at Jay, when he had his arm surgery he went from 300lbs to 250 in no time.
Now he is having a hard time geting back up to 300lbs...I wonder why
Phil is heading in the same direction
There is no reason to artificially increase insulin in your body unless you are diabetic. It is not something that will stick with you and does more damage than good. stick with cycles of GH and divide muscle cells then blow them up if you must.

Just a tip the R means regular and Humalog R takes about 1 hour to start to chip away at blood sugar levels, and can be active for several hours in your system. So don't train at night and go to bed after use you can go hypo in your sleep.

does anyone have insight or a basic protocol for igf-1 lr3 stacked with insulin?

I know this is an old thread but lets think aboubt this....growth and insulin increase IGF. Then why take insulin with IGF? Makes little sense, your IGF is already high. Take insulin with anabolics to push more nutrients into the cells that makes more sense to me.
Same theory applies to growth hormone. If one takes enough growth IGF will be high so there is not need to take additional IGF, hence you dont get much from growth and IGF together you would take one or the other